plate no. 5037

Four Trees

Egon Schiele, 1917

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapetreeslandscapeskysunsethillsfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing expressive brushwork to capture the texture of foliage and the sky.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, the placement of the trees, and the hills.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of orange, yellow, red, and blue, blending them loosely.
step 03
Establish the dark green base of the foreground, varying the tones to suggest depth.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with muted browns and blues, softening the edges.
step 05
Add the tree trunks and branches using thin, dark lines, varying the thickness for visual interest.
step 06
Apply the foliage using short, broken brushstrokes of reds, oranges, and browns, creating a textured effect.
step 07
Paint the setting sun as a small red circle, blending the surrounding colors to create a glow.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the trees and foreground to enhance the sense of depth and texture.

color palette

primary · orange · red · blue · yellow

secondary · brown · green · purple

Achieve the sky colors by mixing orange, red, yellow, and blue, blending them on the canvas. Mix browns and greens for the landscape, adding touches of purple for shadows.

techniques